I'm sick right now - fever and a cold. I've had it since Sunday night/Monday morning. I would much rather have this than the stomach flu, but this still isn't fun. To make matters worse, being sick is also making me emotional, also not fun. So I wasn't sitting here in bed needing some encouragement and I just happened to have a book on my nightstand that I was planning on looking through so I could give some encouragement to a friend at church. Little did I know that God was going to use it for me.
It's the book 'Passionate Housewives Desperate for God' by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald. Such a good book. I started flipping the pages and found a chapter called Weary Women. I think I started crying before I even read anything! The chapter started talking about having a set aside "quiet time". I can definitely relate b/c I try and try to get up in the morning before the kids do and for the past 4 weeks it has happened only a handful of times b/c all the kids have been sick so therefore they've been getting up during the night, and now I'm sick. So anyway, Stacy writes "It took me a long time to realize that I needed to serve God right where He had placed me --and I didn't have to be in seclusion to spend quality time with Him. I was in His presence with every diaper I changed, every Bible story I told to my children, every meal I prepared, every toilet I cleaned, and every math paper I graded." She goes on to say, "Christ never snapped at those who cried out for His "quiet time". Sometimes , He prayed aloud right in the middle of those He had come to serve (John 17). He came to reach out His hands selflessly, and we're to emulate Him."
"God will provide us with the rest and refreshing we need. He will even provide us with moments alone with Him at times. But we're not to knock ourselves out trying to get away from everyone to meet with God. We need to learn to find Him in the commotion of everyday life. We must view serving our families as acts of service to God, rather than as acts that "get in the way" of serving him.
A few paragraphs later she says, "When we trust God, take our eyes off our troubles, and simply choose to do what needs to be done, God blesses us. Your burdens will seem lighter as you allow Him to carry you. The hours of sleep may not always be the number you would choose, they will be enough- He always gives enough....Remember this season of caring for little ones is fleeting. When we are in the midst of diapers, minimal sleep, and challenging days of training, it sure doesn't seem like it, but it's true! Relish the precious moments - remembering this too shall pass."
While that is only a portion of the goodness I found in that chapter, that alone is some good stuff. Thank you God!
A few paragraphs later she says, "When we trust God, take our eyes off our troubles, and simply choose to do what needs to be done, God blesses us. Your burdens will seem lighter as you allow Him to carry you. The hours of sleep may not always be the number you would choose, they will be enough- He always gives enough....Remember this season of caring for little ones is fleeting. When we are in the midst of diapers, minimal sleep, and challenging days of training, it sure doesn't seem like it, but it's true! Relish the precious moments - remembering this too shall pass."
While that is only a portion of the goodness I found in that chapter, that alone is some good stuff. Thank you God!
